January 1st marks the period of New Year’s Resolution: a goal people hope to follow in the new year for self-improvement. These goals are rarely followed through on, with most of the public giving up just about one month in. However, the wish to improve with the year’s clean slate is nevertheless important. Syracuse sports could use a few resolutions of its own: football looked lifeless after quarterback Steve Angeli’s season-ending injury, men’s basketball is threating to have yet another senior class of students that never saw a March Madness bid, and men’s lacrosse still hasn’t captured a national championship since 2009.
Football: Make sure Calvin Russell has a successful freshman year
Let’s be honest: college football coaches are now at the mercy of their players in every sense. Players can opt to transfer at virtually any moment and can even “Hold out” as they do in professional leagues for a more lucrative NIL benefits package. If Syracuse wants Russell to stay longer than just his freshman year, Head Coach Fran Brown and the Orange staff should make keeping him happy a priority. Get Russell the ball early and often; use his elite skill set to draw up specific plays. SU is already without receiving touchdown leader Darrell Gill Jr in 2026, ‘Cuse needs to keep its five-star wideout happy.
A successful freshman year also includes a winning freshman year. Part of Russell’s hesitance to sign with Syracuse back in early December was due to how the season ended. Angeli went down, so did the entire team. Brown didn’t have another quarterback ready to go despite repeatedly saying in the offseason that the Angeli/Rickie Collins quarterback battle was neck-and-neck unit the end. After their upset win against Clemson, the Orange lost each of their remaining eight games by two or more scores. Uber-talented sophomore receiver Cam Coleman just entered the portal from Auburn; while his personal numbers were strong, the former five-star wants wins to be able to impress NFL scouts.
Men’s Basketball: Make the NCAA Tournament
It doesn’t really qualify as a “Resolution”, its more so a demand from Syracuse fans. After the home loss against Clemson to open ACC play, the Orange look no different than their previous seasons in the basement of the conference being unable to win big games. If that ends up coming true down the stretch (A losing record in conference play will secure this), Head Coach Adrian Autry’s already red-hot seat will grow.
SU has five top-25 opponents left on the schedule; after going 0-3 in Las Vegas’ Players Era Tournament, the ‘Cuse are running out of those “Resume-defining wins” tha1t become crucial in the selection committee’s negotiation room for bubble teams. Outside of early December’s home loss to Hofstra, Syracuse hasn’t lost any of its must-win games. The Orange must focus on collecting wins against top teams, while minimizing any “Drops” against the ACC’s basement.
Men’s Lacrosse: Move the ball effectively from the start of the season
Syracuse undoubtedly had a top-tier offense: hosting an attack with Joey Spallina, Owen Hiltz, and Michael Leo will create those possibilities. Despite their talent, the Orange’s offense sputtered for entire quarters of games, ultimately causing their demise against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament. SU has the toughest schedule in the country with a combination of ACC matchups and a non-conference slate that includes Maryland, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, and Denver.
Larger than the tough schedule, ‘Cuse has to fill the product of Hiltz and All-American midfielder Sam English. While Syracuse touts a talented incoming freshman class, its scheme will have to be strong to overcome these tough defenses. The Orange won’t be able to score on talent alone this year after the turnover-filled droughts in 2025.
